(LOCATION: Inside the water tank, after a quiet, sparse meal.)

(A heavy silence hangs in the air. QASSEM, who had been quiet, suddenly stands up, his fists clenched.)

QASSEM: (In a furious, muttered voice, as if talking to himself) "He has to pay… The Ringmaster… He has to pay the price."

TAHER: (Looks at him with concern) "You mean… attack him? Now?! That's insane."

MERENJI: (With a sigh) "Are you crazy? We don't even know if they're still looking for us."

QASSEM: (Turns to them, his eyes burning) "I didn't escape so I could live… I escaped so I could go back for him."

[SCENE 2]

(A tense silence. MADDAH, who had been playing with a small stone, stops and looks at Qassem with a steady gaze.)

MADDAH: "No one asked you to be a hero, Qassem. We all saw what happened… but if you go back for him now, you will die. It's that simple."

QASSEM: (Sharply) "And who says you understand?"

MADDAH: "I don't understand you, but I understand the situation. We are not friends, nor are we a team. We are, quite simply… shared targets."

[SCENE 3]

(Maddah gets up and walks towards the smooth wall of the tank.)

MADDAH: "You're strong, that's for sure. But we're in 'The Bottom'. And the Bottom isn't an arena for heroics… it's a place where those who move alone are ground to dust."

(He pulls a small piece of charcoal from a rusted box and begins to draw on the wall. With every line he draws, the lines glow with a faint blue light, transforming from a simple sketch into a stunning 3D tactical map that floats in the air, leaving the other three completely amazed.)

MADDAH: (His voice now full of strategic confidence as he points to glowing spots on the map) "I've been storing everything… right here." (He points to his head). "The guards at 'The Black Raven Tavern' change shifts at 0200 sharp. At 0400, the supply truck arrives, and its engine noise will cover any other sound for exactly ten minutes. And the western wall of the building… is weak. There's an old crack from a previous collapse."

(Merenji stares at the glowing map, impressed.)

MERENJI: "You… you've calculated all of this?"

MADDAH: "I can't fight like you, Merenji. I can't climb like Taher. And I definitely don't have that mysterious power." (He glances at Qassem). "But I can make sure we all come back alive."

[SCENE 4]

(Maddah points to different spots on the map as he lays out the detailed plan: Merenji's diversion, Taher's infiltration through the west wall, and the ambush he and Qassem will set.)

(After he finishes, a moment of silence as they process the complex plan. Taher looks at Qassem.)

TAHER: "His plan… is better than your plan."

(Qassem looks at the intricate map, then at Maddah's confident face. Finally, after an internal struggle, he gives a slow, determined nod.)

QASSEM: "Fine. We do it your way."

(Maddah allows a small, triumphant smile. At that moment, Taher breaks the seriousness with a light laugh, scratching his head.)

TAHER: "I never expected that the most sarcastic one among us… would be the smartest."

MERENJI: (Laughs loudly) "I've made my decision. I'm not going to die with a bunch of idiots… but I might live with crazies like you."

(Qassem doesn't respond. But for the first time, the ghost of a smile appears on his face as he watches this interaction.)

[SCENE 5]

(FINAL SHOT: A quick montage shows the heroes preparing for the mission. Merenji crafts primitive smoke bombs. Taher practices silent climbing moves. Qassem meditates, trying to calm his rage and focus his intent. And Maddah reviews the map in his mind one last time.)

NARRATOR (V.O.):

"In the Bottom… trust is not given. But a shared fear… creates a temporary alliance. And on rare occasions… that alliance can be the beginning of a true friendship."

(The camera pulls them all together as they stand at the exit of their shelter, their faces set with determination. They are no longer four scared boys; they are a hunting party with a plan.)

(They open the door and step into the darkness of Tiaret.)

(The screen cuts to black.)

(END OF EPISODE)